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'Avatar' joins 'E.T.' as only sci-fi films to win at Golden Globes

January 17, 2010 | 8:46
pm

"Avatar" joins "E.T. the Extraterrestrial" as the only
science-fiction films to be crowned champs at the Golden Globes. Since "E.T."
won way back in 1982, no other sci-fi film has even contended at the Golden Globes till
"Avatar." Nearly three decades ago, "E.T." was on its way to the top of
the all-time box office chart when it beat "Missing," "An Officer and a
Gentleman," "Sophie's Choice" and "The Verdict" to take best drama at
the Golden Globes. However, at the Oscars, "E.T" was edged for best
picture by "Gandhi," which had won foreign film at the Golden Globes.

The only other sci-films to vie for best picture honors at the
Golden Globes -- "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Star Wars"
-- did so in 1977. They both lost that race to "The Turning Point," which then went down to defeat in all 11 of its bids at the Oscars. That "record" achievement
was matched in 1985 by "The Color Purple" directed by "E.T."
helmer Steven Spielberg.

"Avatar" visionary James
Cameron added a matching pair of Golden Globes to his collection Sunday. In 1997, he won two of his three Golden Globe bids for "Titanic" -- best
drama and director -- losing the screenplay race to eventual Oscar
champs Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for "Good Will Hunting."